View Service Folder For Arlene

Mass of Christian Burial for Arlene Baumeister, 84, of McLaughlin will be at 10 AM, MT, Thursday, August 6, 2020 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Watauga, SD. Inurnment will be at the Watauga Cemetery. Arlene passed away Saturday, April 18, 2020, at her home in rural McLaughlin. Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge is in charge of arrangements.

Arlene Clara Baumeister was born on Nov. 10, 1935 to Mary (Ament) and L.E. Maxon in Athboy, SD. Arlene was truly a woman of the prairie. Growing up on her parent's west river ranch, Arlene loved to be outside, often volunteering to milk the cow rather than staying in to wash the dishes. She was known for her beautiful singing voice and her acting talents in school, and her children have many fond memories of listening to her sing. After high school, Arlene attended St. Mary's Nursing School in Pierre, SD, where she met Bob Baumeister and fell in love. They were married on Jan. 24, 1955 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in McLaughlin, SD. The couple made their home first in Long Valley, SD and later worked with Arlene's parents, then with Bob's, while they saved up for a ranch of their own. They eventually settled south of Watauga, where they spent many years ranching, training horses, and raising their children. She loved gardening, especially flowers, and reading a good book. Arlene's spirit of adventure was a blessing to her husband, as they struck out to Missouri for a time, and even to a ranch in Nevada in their later years. But, her love of the prairie brought her home again, and after Bob's death, she returned to the McLaughlin area to make her home with her daughter Lorie and son-in-law Dick Hach. Even in the final weeks of her life, she enjoyed watching the cattle graze and talking with Dick about ranch matters.

In the early hours of April 18, 2020, Arlene passed away peacefully in her sleep. Her amazing faith is a comfort to her family, as are the memories of her love. Upon her death, the family struggled to find pictures of Arlene alone, as the great majority of them were taken with one or more of her grandchildren in her arms. Some build a legacy with brick and stone, but Arlene's legacy will live on in the lives she has touched as a mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; daughter, Cela Marie; parents, Mary and L.E. Maxon; brothers, Lyle, Bud, Dick, Frank, and Charles Maxon; sister, Lois Ehlers; and grandchildren, Dominic Rettke, Christopher Heiser, Amanda Baumeister, and Layla Rehling.

She is survived by her children Mike (Sylvia) Baumeister, Teresa Howell, Lorie (Dick) Hach, Connie (Paul) Erz, Joan Baumeister, Nola (Jerry) Heiser, Samie (Steve) Overboe, Bart (Natalie) Baumeister, Luke (Becky) Baumeister, Beth (Herb) Clifton, and Jessie (Roy) Fisher: brothers Mel (Dee), George, and Kenneth Maxon; sisters Marilyn Zeman and Kate Maxon, 37 beloved grandchildren, 65 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.